Your vehicle is a big possession and you need to make sure that you take good care of it. When it is time to get it moved a long distance, you may need to consider a few different tips to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Some of the tips that you can consider when it is time to safely move your car without any damage includes:
Get the Car Checked Out
This is especially important if you plan to take the car and drive it to the new location on your own. You will need to have a professional take a closer look at it to see that everything is working fine. They can look for any damage and top off some of the fluids that may be running low before you drive.
You could be putting yourself and your vehicle at risk if you choose to drive it and it has been too long since any maintenance was done on it. Even a quick tune-up of some of the parts will help it to last longer and will keep you safe while on the road.
Use a Vehicle Transport Company
If you need to move the car a long distance, then it is a good idea to consider using a vehicle transport company to help get this done. These professionals will be able to pick up the car and get it safely to a new location while you handle all the other parts of your move.
This is a great option if you need to move across the country and do not want to take as long to get there or are worried about the damage this can cause to your car. You can choose between an open transport carrier or a closed transport carrier based on how much you would like to spend and the level of protection you need for the car.
Before choosing a vehicle transport company, make sure to compare two or more companies with one another. This will make it easier for you to compare prices for the move and choose the one that makes the most sense for your needs.
Plan Ahead
If you plan to use a vehicle transport company, it is a good idea to plan ahead and leave enough time between shipping the car and moving. Shipping any vehicle is not going to be easier. It can take some time and will often need a bit more leeway than some of the other items you are sending to your new home.
You will need to plan out which carrier is going to get the work done safely and having patience in case there are unexpected delays will be critical through this process as well.
Each company will be different in the amount of shipping time they can provide and the distance you wish to move the car will be important here. Some examples include:
- For trips of 100 to 500 miles, expect the shipping to take one to two days.
- For trips 1000 to 15000 miles, expect it to take three to four days.
- For trips 2000 to 25000 miles, expect the shipping to take up to 6 days.
- For trips up to 3000 miles, expect the shipping to take 7 days.
This is assuming that there aren’t any delays along the way. Plan this out to make sure that the vehicle is picked up at the right time and dropped off at the new location at the right time.
Take Pictures of Your Car
Before the vehicle transport company comes to get the car, or before you decide to drop it off, you need to consider taking some pictures. This will help you have some proof in case something happens with the car while it is on the road. You will be able to compare the damage to your pictures later on.
You can do this on your own or with a representative of the transport company. Ask them to walk around the vehicle with you and mark down any of the imperfections that are already there. This helps protect you later in case something does happen.
Prepare the Car
You will also need to take some time to prepare your car before handing it over to the car transport company. Once you are ready to drop it off, make sure to empty it out of all the items that should not be there. It is tempting to put some of the items you are moving into the car, but this is not a good way to transport the items.
First off, this adds to the weight of the car and can cost you more money. It is less expensive to take the items with you through a trailer or other means. Plus, there is the potential for the items to go through a window and cause damage if there is an accident.
Keep the amount of gas in the car to a minimum. It does not need a full tank. ¼ of a tank or less is the best on this one. And turn off the alarms on the car to avoid problems for the transporter later.
Check the Insurance
Look into your own insurance policy on the vehicle before you ship it. Check into the liability insurance coverage for the moving company as well in case the damage is their fault. Most moving companies will provide coverage of $50,000 to $1,000,000, but this is always something that you should check ahead of time.
It is possible that damage will happen, even with a reputable company. Having the right insurance in place can keep you safe in the case damage does happen.
Keeping Your Car Safe
Whether you plan to hire a moving company to take your car or you would like to drive it on your own, it is important to take good care of the car and plan ahead. This will help ensure that you and your car get to the new location safely each time.
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